The motions list is the heaviest in a number of years with 78 tabled. Included in these are the measures necessary to implement four reports, in addition to motions from around the country.
Chief among the issues up for decision were going to be the proposals of the Football Development Committee but meetings of county boards have already scuttled them. They remain on the agenda and together with a couple of other proposed changes to the intercounty championships comprise the motions 59-62.
The disciplinary reforms introduced last year on an experimental basis are tabled for permanent adoption. They include centralising the power to appoint referees and administer discipline, the introduction of red and yellow cards and new categories of offences and suspensions.
These proposals were originally published in a comprehensive report on the revision of disciplinary rules. To become part of the GAA's rulebook, changes to 21 rules, motions 20-43, will need to be passed by a two-thirds majority.
The Policy and Planning committee, chaired by incoming president Sean McCague, has issued a report which covers motions 4454. They include restricting the term of office for county chairpersons to five years, scheduling county conventions to take place before the end of December and the appointment of a full-time county administrator - not necessarily the county secretary.
Other proposals include arranging county administrations to mirror the structures at Croke Park level and the implementation of directives governing child-abuse and drug-testing.
Motions 55-58 deal with the club fixtures report which intends to address the pitifully small number of matches guaranteed ordinary club players. This is also the congress in the five-year cycle at which changes to the playing rules can be considered. Motions 1-19 concern this area. Kerry propose the number of substitutes allowed in an intercounty game be increased to five.
There are also proposals to abolish the pick-up and the handpass, introduce specifications for the sliotar, impose the restrictions which were tried in the 1995 National Football League - outlawing two consecutive hand-passes and introducing an advantage rule as in rugby.
Tyrone propose that the fiveyear cycle which governs motions on the playing rules be temporarily extended to 10 years.
Of the remaining motions those of most interest are:
63 - That English as well as Irish be acceptable for official GAA purposes.
65 - Enabling drug-testing provisions to be implemented.
66 - A volte face from Cork aimed at reversing the provision that graduates of up to one year's standing can play for university or third-level teams. Cork introduced this, but after a year in which UCC won the county football title and reached the hurling final, the county has decided enough is enough.
69 - Allowing Central Council to set aside Rule 42 in certain cases. This is the rule which is used to prevent soccer or rugby being played on GAA grounds. May be ruled out of order on grounds of vagueness.
71 - That the proposers of motions which are found to be out of order be informed of the deficiency so that they can remedy the defect and table them. 73 - To re-introduce June - previously ruled out because of public examinations - as a month in which minor championship matches can be played.
74 - To allow official team parties to consist of 24 rather than 21 players.
